The group of 12 member states comprising the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) on Thursday elected Colombia head of the South American defense council (CSD), during which time it will lead the cooperative security policies of the organization for one year.
Under the leadership of Colombia over the next 12 months the CSD will develop strategies on policies including defense, military cooperation, humanitarian actions, training and peacekeeping operations as well as industry and defense technology.
During its presidency, Colombia will be focused on addressing and promoting common themes such as peace operations, preparation for natural disasters, methodology for the calculation of defense spending, education and training, academic exchanges, reform of the ministries of defense, the role of civil society in the discussion of defense and the creation of mutual confidence building measures with the identification of risk factors, among others.
The main challenge for Colombia is to consolidate the unity and consensus on issues and defense and security policies with other member countries of UNASUR.
UNASUR was established in 2008 as a regional agency that, in a participatory and consensual manner, seeks to build integration and union in the cultural, social, political and economic fields of its members.
The 12 member states include Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela.